He said rain boots were a fair comparison, except that he had never been able to get his hearing aids muddy without regretting it.

A few weeks later the center displayed my renovation sketches.

They included better sight lines, quieter rooms, clear signage, and seating arranged so people could see one another’s faces.

An audiologist told me the changes would make appointments less frustrating for older veterans who read lips or used interpreters.

The project mattered to me because it was mine.

It also mattered because Frank had spent years adapting to buildings designed by people who rarely considered him.

I wanted the next visitors to feel expected, not accommodated as an afterthought.